Senator Ali Ndume, former Chief Whip of the Senate, has warned that President Bola Tinubu could suffer a political fate similar to that of former President Goodluck Jonathan if urgent steps are not taken to address worsening economic conditions and growing public dissatisfaction.
Ndume issued the warning during his appearance on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme aired on Sunday.
Recalling the 2015 general elections in which Jonathan, despite the backing of 22 state governors under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was defeated by Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ndume cautioned that a similar upset could befall the Tinubu administration.
“Tinubu could face what I call the ‘Jonathan treatment.’ Back then, Jonathan had the support of 22 governors, just like we are seeing now. But what happened? He lost—badly,” Ndume remarked.
The lawmaker representing Borno South Senatorial District stressed that mass endorsements within the APC should not be mistaken for electoral certainty, especially in the face of rising hardship and public frustration.
“We’re not learning from the past. I pity Mr. President. He said this isn’t campaign season, but if you look around, campaigns are already underway—just disguised as endorsements,” he said.
Ndume also criticized moves within the APC suggesting automatic return tickets for incumbent lawmakers, warning that such decisions could alienate party loyalists and ground-level supporters vital to electoral success.
“When rumours emerged about automatic tickets for National Assembly members, the party quickly denied it. But the question remains—who will be your foot soldiers? You can’t rely on governors alone,” he cautioned.
The senator urged President Tinubu to act swiftly in implementing policies that tangibly improve the lives of ordinary Nigerians, emphasizing that there’s still time to regain public trust before the next election cycle.
“The hardship we’re talking about has built up over just two years. If the President can turn things around in the next two years and genuinely improve people’s lives, no one will be able to challenge him at the polls,” Ndume concluded.
